Only 5pc parents discuss adolescence with kids

Only five percent of parents, particularly mothers, discuss with their teenage children about the changes they face during their adolescence.

About 95 percent of mothers hesitate to talk with their children about the issue which leaves a negative impact on the physical and emotional growth of the teenagers, revealed Dr Sabina Sultana, associate professor of the psychology department of Rajshahi University, mentioning different research papers' findings.

Adolescence is a remarkable sensitive period for both boys and girls. This is the time when most of them make mistakes due to curiosity and ignorance as changes in their body and hormones surprise them and a lack of proper knowledge leads them to believe various fallacies.

Therefore, rational interactions should take place between mothers and children in every family to give them proper knowledge on physiology, she suggested.

Dr Sabina, who teaches child and adolescent psychology, said the teenagers need decent approaches and support from their surroundings especially parents and other near and dear ones for sound grooming.

She also pointed that many families, even some educated ones, remain reluctant to discuss the matter with their children.

Alomgir Kabir, superintendent of police of Rajshahi, said such reluctance can result in various juvenile crimes and unexpected incidents like drug addiction, terrorism in the society and sexual harassments of school and college girls, extramarital pregnancy and suicides.

Juveniles can easily be lured into conducting illegal activities. A lack of self-control and insufficient control by the parents, guardians and the society also lead them to get off track.

He said over 15 percent of crimes are being committed by the teenagers. Initiatives of families, society and the media are needed to tackle the situation.

Some legal issues should be included in the textbooks and institution-level counselling for the adolescent children needs to be introduced on priority basis, he added.

Ensuring adolescent-friendly reproductive health services is a must as many rural adolescent girls are still ignorant. Besdes, a congenial environment should be created to make the young generation feel free to speak about any queries, said advocate Abdus Samad, BLAST's local unit coordinator.